Tight contest on the cards in Kaloor South as LDF, UDF field seasoned candidates

A three-time Left Democratic Front (LDF) councillor and a two-time United Democratic Front (UDF) councillor are locked in a head-on contest in the Kaloor South division of the Kochi Corporation, whereas the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had to scramble to field a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate at the eleventh hour after the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), which had originally been allotted the seat, returned it upon failing to find a candidate.

A tight contest is on the cards in this division at the heart of the city, as both K.V. Manoj and M.G. Aristotle are seasoned campaigners representing the CPI(M) and Congress respectively. Mr. Manoj, a CPI(M) district committee and CITU State committee member, secured two consecutive victories from the division between 2000 and 2010, followed by another win from the Ponnurunni East division in 2015.

Mr. Aristotle registered his maiden victory from Kaloor South in 2015. Having served as the UDF parliamentary party secretary in the recently concluded council, he moved to the Kathrikadavu division in 2020 after Kaloor South was reserved for women. He has now returned, as Kathrikadavu has been reserved for women this time. A.B. Anilkumar is contesting as the BJP candidate.

“I have strong connections in the division, having represented it earlier. I feel a friendly vibe while campaigning. Though Manoj poses a stiff challenge, he has been away from the electoral arena for well over a decade, and that rustiness will show, not to mention the setbacks he faced within the party during the period,” says Mr. Aristotle.

UDF candidate M.G. Aristotle campaigning in the division.
| Photo Credit:
THULASI KAKKAT

Mr. Manoj, however, could not disagree more. He dismisses the contest as a forgone one, claiming he is assured of an “easy walkover.” “The division still has only the development projects implemented during my decade-long tenure, whether it is the Vyloppilly Cultural Centre or the bridge along the Vyloppilly Lane–Stadium Link Road, which has become one of the most frequently used routes by motorists,” he asserts.

Mr. Aristotle counters these claims, pointing out that the LDF, which held power in the Corporation for the past five years, is yet to find a lasting solution to waste management. He highlights that the proposed Compressed Biogas plant at Brahmapuram is yet to turn operational, and criticises the doorstep collection of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste as erratic and lacking a proper schedule.

Meanwhile, Mr. Anilkumar, who trails the other two in campaigning after being thrust into the fray at the last minute, remains confident and claims to have the backing of the solid base of the traditional BJP votes in the division.

BJP candidate A.B. Anilkumar greets a voter in the division.
| Photo Credit:
THULASI KAKKAT

The delimitation exercise has slightly reduced the size of the division, though it retains more than 90% of its original geographical area, with nearly 5,500 voters in total. The division usually records a voter turnout of around 65%.

From the looks of it, the contest in this division is likely to be anything but an easy walkover for whoever emerges victorious. In 2020, Congress councillor Rajani Mani was declared the winner through a flip of the coin after she tied in votes with CPI(M) candidate Seena Babu.